• Notwithstanding all of Princess Shao Ning’s protests, the Emperor eventually made his choice out of the nobles and she is engaged to be married off next year. With her assignment done, Zhi Wei finds time to go home to see Mama Feng.

“Ha Er (Feng Hao) disappeared.”  Mama Feng says the first moment she sees Zhi Wei, without asking why she has been gone for so long “Can you help me find him?”

Suppressing the many questions that are clamoring in her heart, Zhi Wei replies “He is in the dungeon.”

“What happened?” Shocked, Mama Feng asks.

After listening to Zhi Wei’s simple explanation of what happened, Mama Feng says after a long moment “Your brother was just being greedy. You should think of a way to get him out, how can he handle suffering in a place like that.”

“You are so certain I can get him out?” Zhi Wei smiles even as her expression darkens.

Mama Feng replies “You are my daughter. I know what you are capable of and what you are not. I know very clearly if you would just go ask Prince Helian for a favor, Feng Hao could be released right away.”

Her heart sinks, Zhi Wei sneers “Last time when he came to ask for my hand, you chased him away but now you want me to ask him for a favor?”

“If you won’t go, then I will!” Mama Feng turns to leave “I just counted on the generosity of those who are from the wild grasslands. I had no intention of selling you off.”

 

Take aback, Zhi Wei sense something seems different with her mother today and softs her voice “Alright, I will let him out but…”

“What?”

“Once I get my brother out, we as a family leave the Capital, alright?” Thinking of Ning Yi’s words (I am assuming she is referring to what our hero said during their conversation at the academy.), Zhi Wei stares into Mama Feng’s eyes and says slowly “Things are too complicated here. Let’s find a place far away, near the mountain and the water, okay?”

Mama Feng stops in her track. From where Zhi Wei is standing she can see Mama Feng’s fingers are all intertwined together.

Zhi Wei knows that is something her mother only does when she is truly shaken. Staring at those hands, Zhi Wei suddenly says “I won’t ask you my brother’s identity. I won’t ask you why you taught me the things you did. I figure the purpose is none other for me to protect him. Because of you, I accept it. But I want to remind you, if Feng Hao is so precious to you, then why come to the Capital where the situation is so complicated? If you thinking to hide in plain sight is the best way of hiding, then I tell you now this will not work on Feng Hao. Letting him live somewhere far and away from everyone’s knowledge is his best chance of living a long life.”

Mama Feng’s body trembled but she didn’t turn around. Her hands untangled suddenly. Turning around after a long moment, Mama Feng stares at Zhi Wei long and hard “You really mean what you said?”

“Yes.”

“You have no lingering desire for the Capital?”

“…..yes.”

“Alright.” Mama Feng stares at Zhi Wei, her expression a mixture of disappointment and relief but surprisingly without any hint of hesitation “After you get your brother out, then three of us will leave the Capital.”

“Alright.” Zhi Wei press down the heartache and pain that suddenly spilled out from her heart then says “Once Feng Hao is back, we will leave. From that point on, we will never step foot again in Capital.”

  • Things of course doesn’t go as our heroine planned. The Emperor suddenly summons Zhi Wei into the palace and sends her on an expedition out to the south sea.

“I will appoint some guards to accompany you.” The Emperor says “Things are getting restless at south sea so the sooner you get there the better. It’s not like you have families in Capital to say goodbye to, so just leave right away.”

Surprised, Zhi Wei has no choice but to agree. Thinking that she won’t have time to say goodbye to her mother nor have the time to get her brother out of the dungeon, Zhi Wei resorts to blinking her eyes a few times secretly at Ning Yi. Much to her frustration, the guy seems completely unable to read her signal and just smile brightly back at her.

What are you smiling at?! Like a fool! Zhi Wei complains silently but part of her is also glad that she has a chance to go far away, she is free. She finally doesn’t have to see Prince Chu’s stunning smile, so great.

  • The Emperor told Zhi Wei she could pick a few people from the academy to accompany her. All the students knew this is a great opportunity to prove themselves, so everyone was clamoring to be picked by Zhi Wei. Looking over at the crowd of students, Zhi Wei spots a familiar face who is not so gently pushing back anyone who tries to squeeze in front of him.

Zhi Wei yells “Helian, go away! This has nothing to do with you!”

“As the academy’s best student, it is my duty.” Helian says with all seriousness.

“As the academy’s highest authority.” Zhi Wei gives him a fake smile “I will not permit this and I express my total disagreement with your previous statement.”

“I am going to go find my little aunt!” Helian pretends that he is about to march off “My aunt taught me that I should win with reason. I am not going to argue with you, I will go find my aunt to reason with you.”

Shaking her head, Zhi Wei swallow a laugh and drags him off to the side “How can you go? The Emperor won’t allow it either!”

“Father gave me a year to come have an audience with the Emperor and to experience more things.” Helian laughs “As long as the conflict between our two countries is not resolved, I won’t be allowed to go back. You know I am like half of a hostage.”

Rising an eyebrow, Zhi Wei thought it’s not like you act like one. 

“The Emperor is fine with me following you.” Helian says jovially “He will only get a headache if I stay.”

“Fine” Zhi Wei holds out her hand “A few small conditions.”

“Deal!”

“You can’t spy on me, you can’t climb walls, you are not allowed to bring out the aunt business at any time. You are not to attempt to get close to my carriage. You won’t be given any special privileges. You have to follow all the academy rules AND any rule I deem as necessary to add at any time.”

“Deal!”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhi Wei casts a doubtful look towards the exceptionally agreeable Prince Helian but His Highness is already skipping off to pack his bags while muttering under his breath “No matter what, I have to trick her into letting me go first or else my half baked aunty duck is going to end up in someone else’s mouth.” (This is a reference to a common Chinese comparison of a guy getting a girl to eating duck…that sounded really weird when I wrote that out.)

“What is he saying?” Zhi Wei asks Master Gu who just walked in the door.

“He, duck.” Munching on a walnut, Master Gu gives his trademark short and concise answer.

Bidding goodbye to all the officials who have come to see her off, Zhi Wei stares at the ornate buildings of the Capital as it gets further away and is suddenly hit by a sense of melancholy. This is the first time she has left the Capital but her family is not even aware she is leaving. In that moment, it feels like she is a kite snapped from its string and sent off by the wind to far far away.

Zhi Wei could almost see in her mind her mother leaning against the door with a sad expression. There are too many things in this world that forces our actions. With a heavy heart, Zhi Wei consols herself that she will have to wait until she gets back from south sea to keep the promise she made with her mother.

Looking around at all the happy excited smiles, Zhi Wei makes her own lips form into a smile and slowly climb into her carriage, raise the blind and froze.

Lovely grape wine in a transparent crystal cup, someone is sleeping on her bed.

That certain someone is laying on her golden silk sheet, leaning against her soft pillow, holding her crystal cup. Through the deep red colored wine, staring at her with eyes that seems even more intoxicating than the wine, a certain someone says “The color of this wine is certainly beautiful.”

Her lips tugging upward into a stiff smile, Zhi Wei wavers between bowing or pushing a certain someone off? Before she could make up her mind, a certain someone says perversely “Like your blood.”

Quickly making up her mind, Zhi Wei yells “Dry walnut!”

In a flash, a sword plunge through the top of carriage straight for a certain someone’s head.

A certain someone languidly drinks his win, not moving an inch, the wine in the cup didn’t even make a single ripple.

The sword pulls back and slashes across the crystal cup barely missing a certain someone’s head.

A drop of the deep red wine flew into Ning Yi’s waiting lips. Biting his lips like he is savoring the taste, Ning Yi smilingly says “Thank you, Master Gu for the wine.”

Letting out a sigh, Zhi Wei calls out “Walnut shell!”

The sword disappears, leaving a hole on the carriage roof but it quickly was covered up by the ever versatile walnut

Walnut meat– Kill! Walnut Shell– Escape! Dry Walnut –To scare! Walnut powder– Do as you see fit! Walnut–I want!

This is the code words Zhi Wei and Gu Nan Yi have figured out recently.

 

 

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